Tarik Skubal Bio
Tarik Daniel Skubal (born November 20, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Tigers in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2020. He is a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner (2024 and 2025). In 2024, Skubal was named an All-Star and became the first American League pitcher since 2011 to capture both the pitching Triple Crown and the Cy Young Award in a full season. He was again named an All-Star in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Tarik Skubal was born in Hayward, California. His father is an elementary school teacher and retired coach. He has three brothers and one step-brother. Growing up, Skubal was a fan of the Oakland Athletics and played two years of Little League Baseball, representing Cordelia, California, and the wider Tri-Valley area. He moved to Kingman, Arizona, and attended Kingman Academy of Learning. Skubal enrolled at Seattle University to play college baseball for the Seattle Redhawks, which was the only NCAA Division I school to offer him a scholarship. He faced significant challenges during his early career, missing most of the 2016 season and all of 2017 due to Tommy John surgery. Despite this setback, he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 29th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft but chose not to sign, opting instead to return to Seattle. In 2018, he led the Redhawks with 106 strikeouts and finished his college career with a combined 21–7 record as a starter.
Path to Baseball
The Detroit Tigers selected Tarik Skubal in the ninth round with the 255th overall selection of the 2018 MLB draft. He received a $350,000 bonus for signing a contract. After the draft, Skubal spent his first professional season with the Gulf Coast Tigers, Connecticut Tigers, and West Michigan Whitecaps, achieving a combined 3–0 record and a remarkable 0.40 earned run average (ERA) in 22+1⁄3 innings pitched. He started the 2019 season with the Lakeland Flying Tigers and earned a call-up to the Erie SeaWolves on July 5. His performances raised his ranking in MLB.com’s 2019 Prospect Watch from a preseason #20 ranking in the Tigers’ organization to a #4 spot at the midseason update. He finished the season at Double-A Erie with a 2–3 record, 2.13 ERA, and 179 strikeouts in 122+2⁄3 innings.
Tarik Skubal Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Tarik Skubal made his MLB debut on August 18, 2020, after being recalled from the Tigers’ satellite training facility in Toledo. He earned his first major league win on August 29, 2020, against the Minnesota Twins. In his debut season, he appeared in eight games, compiling a 1–4 record with a 5.63 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched. His cutter, averaging 95.4 mph, was the fastest cutter of any major league pitcher in 2020. In 2021, Skubal was announced as part of the Tigers’ starting rotation. He recorded his 100th strikeout of the season on July 3, becoming the first Tiger rookie to reach that milestone before the All-Star break. He finished the 2021 season with an 8–12 record and 164 strikeouts in 149+1⁄3 innings.
Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Skubal continued to pitch in the Tigers’ starting rotation in 2022, posting a 7–8 record with a 3.52 ERA before being placed on the injured list due to fatigue in his pitching arm. He underwent flexor tendon surgery, which ended his 2022 season. In 2023, he made a strong comeback, pitching 80+1⁄3 innings over 15 starts with a 7–3 record and a 2.80 ERA. His performance ranked him among the top pitchers in the league for strikeouts and limiting walks. In 2024, Skubal started the season strong, leading to his selection as an All-Star and achieving a historic Triple Crown, becoming the first pitcher to do so since 2011. He finished the season with an 18–4 record, a 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts, earning his first AL Cy Young Award.
Notable Works and Milestones
Tarik Skubal’s signature work includes his remarkable 2024 season, where he not only won the AL Cy Young Award but also achieved the Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
Tarik Skubal Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Tarik Skubal has received multiple nominations, including two consecutive nominations for the AL Cy Young Award in 2024 and 2025.
Tarik Skubal Awards Won
Tarik Skubal has won the AL Cy Young Award twice, in 2024 and 2025, recognizing him as one of the top pitchers in Major League Baseball.
Tarik Skubal Family
Information regarding Tarik Skubal’s family is limited. He has three brothers and one step-brother, but further details about his family life are not publicly available.
Personal Life
Tarik Skubal has maintained a relatively private personal life, with no publicly available information regarding his marital status or children.